Pipe-coupling.



J. W. MCFERRAN.

PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FlLED SEPT. I2, 1913.

Patented Jung 3, 1916.

.man w. Marsman, or cnnvnnann, omo.

. rien-commas.

Specification of Lettertsyatent; Patented lune d3, 31916.

Application filed September 12, 1913. Serial No. 789,573.

exact description, reference being had yto the accompanying draw1ngs.

rllhis invention relates to pipe couplings and has for its object the provision of. a coupling for connecting a pipe or rod to any desired fitting, or to connect two such sections of pipe or rod together, and this without the use of solder or of soft packing, such as rubber, and without the necessity of threading, Hanging, grooving, indenting` or otherwise operating the pipes or rods, and without reference as to whether the= pipes or rods be of soft metal or of hard metal or whether they be externally smooth or provided with scratches, seams, corrugations, threads, grooves, or indentations.

@ther objects are the provision of a pipe coupling of the lgreatest simplicity and cheapneSs; the provision of a coupling which can be assembled with .a minimum of time and exertion and with the employment of the smallest possible number of tools; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description and claims.

ln my earlier copending application, filed Feb. 23, 1912, Ser. No. 679,398, I have described and claimed a novel and highly etlicient form of pipe joint which experience shows to be of very great advantage in connection with pipes of small diameter.

ln the device disclosed in this prior application the end of the pipe or rod to be connected is surrounded with any interiorly smooth sleeve which is formed upon the exterior with a circumferential rib, said rib being afterward transferred by pressure to the interior of the sleeve so as to form an internal bead 'therein denting the pipe or rod and interlocking therewith. However,

it is found that the width of the internal.

bead is much` greater than thatv of the original external rib owing to the spreadi-rng and diffusion? of the inward stress throughout the walls of the sleeve. This diffusion reduces the pressure upon thebead so ,as t0 prevent the desired denting of the pipe or.

rod unless the latter be of Very Softv metal or have comparatively thin walls or be of comparatively small diameter. By the use of the devices and expediente disclosed in this application, l am enabled to extend the use of my improvements topipes of harder metal and of greater thickness and of larger diameter.

Generally speaking, my invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations and constructions recited in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, although it will be understood that the embodiments illustrated in the drawings comprise but a very few of a great number of forms in which my invention can beA embodied.

ln these drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through a pair of abutting hard metal pipes with the parts of my improved pipe coupling thereon, such parts being shown prior to setting up. Fig. 2 shows the same parts setup. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the abuttinlg ends of hard and soft metal pipes with t e parts of a modified coupling thereon, sald parts. being shown prior to setting up; Fig. 4 shows those parts set up.

.F ig. 5 is a longltudinal cross sectional view through the abutting ends of a pair of soft metal pipes the same being surrounded by the parts of my improved coupling constructed according to another modification; and Fig. 6 shows the same parts set up- Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing one mode of applying my improved connectionto the joint between a soft metal pipe and a fitting, the parts being shown prior to setting up; and Fig. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view.

' Describing the parts by reference characters, particular attention being had to Figs. l and 2,1 and 2 represent the pipes to be secured together, the same being shown in this instance as of hard metal, such as cast or wrought iron or steel, and of substantially equal external size. Surrounding and bridging the meeting ends of these pipes is a vdoubly tapered sleeve 3 of rather hard, .ductile, and malleable metal, preferably an cumferential bead 4, the internal diameter of the same being preferably just such as to receive the ends of the pipes 1 and 2. Uponthe ends of' the sleeve 3 are mounted a pair of constricting members, here comprising a 'pair Aof threaded members -5 and 6 respectively,

A having their interiors tapered complementarily to the tapered surfaces of the sleeve 3 and adapted when brought together to produce a y owerful inward pressure upon the same. vhen screw threaded members are employed as illustrated the larger ends of thelr tapered inner portions are preferably gradually enlarged as at 7 so that no sharpl or abrupt shouldersmay be provided which shall tend toimpede the movement of the same over the sleeve 3. When the parts are tightened up as illustrated in Fig. 2, the diameter of the\ends of the sleeve 3 is de- "creased, and the, beads 4 4 arev Vforced against the surfaces of the pipes 1 and 2 with a very severe pressure, owing to the fact thatthe whole" force of the constriction of the sleeve is expended upon the comparatively small area presented thereby. This force is so great as to cause indentations to be made in all but the hardest and thickest pipes, and even where an indentation be not made owing to the hardness of the pipe, the pressure is so great as to force the faces of these beads intimately into every groove.,

striation and irregularity of the pipe sur-l face, thus absolutely preventing leakage and rendering endwise separation substantially that it precludes any relative angular movement of the pipes, and thus prevents their working about so as to form a.l leak past the beads While lead has been. suggested as the preferable-.material for this liner,

other soft materials, such as even rubber can be employed, if desired. It is desirable to employ some material for liners of less hard-...

ness t an the sleeve itself, sincev the more solid sleeve serves to confine and embrace this liner, while the beads 4-4 prevent its being exuded through the ends of the sleeves.

In Figs. 3 andy 4, I have 4illustrated a modified form of coupling, particularly desirable for use 1n connection with lighter work or with tubes which will more easily admit of indentation or in a location where the pressure may be expected to be less. In' this embodiment, the pipe ends .are shown at 11 and 12, respectively, the pipe 11 being the occurren'ce here shown as of hard metal, and the pipe 12 of soft metal .so as to illustrate the possibil' f ity of employing my improved joint in connection with pipes of different types, although either or both pipes may be made of hard or soft metal if desired. .The sleeve is illustrated at 3a and is formed asy before with a doubly tapered exterior, excepting that the exterior portion is formed adjacent to each end with an external .circumferential rib 13.

The interior of the sleeve is substantiallyl cylindrical and of a size preferably such 4as to receive rather snugly the abutting ends of.

the pi es, the interior of the sleeve being forme at each end with a pair of spaced circumferential grooves 14-. 14, defining beads 15 which lie opposite the ribs 13. Exteriorly the sleeve is surrounded by the constricting members, as before, which may take the .form of the sleeves-5 and 6 as indicated or any other desirable construction. When these members are drawn together as illustrated -in Fig. 4, the ribs 13-13 are pressed radially inward so as to bring pressure upon the beads 15--15 opposite thereto.

'If the pipe or member within be of such hardness as not to yield to the strain, the

metal of these beads is pressed intimately `1nto contact therewith so as to render theI same leak-proof; if it be softer or more yieldable, it may be corrugated as illustrated at 16 in Fig. 4, the bead 15 being displaced inwardly from ythe surface of the sleeve so as to interlock therewith. The advantage of forming the 'interior of the sleeve with the grooves 14-14 is that the coming bead is more Vexactly defined and the force giving risc thereto is localized within a small'area, thus creating a higher pressure and producing, a more intimate contact between the sleeve and pipe. )Also this sleeve is less expensive to make'than that shown in Figs. 1

and 2, because of the fact thatthe grooves 14 and' 14 are easier to form than thev beads 4-4, of a smaller quantity of metal. The close contact of the interior of the sleeve 3a with the exteriors of the pipes renders impossible o f any tilting or shifting of the joint..

. In-Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a third embodiment of the invention, the same befing avslight variation of that shown in Figs.

3 and 4. lIn this view the pipes are indicated at 20 and 21 respectively, and are both shown as of soft metal although it will be understood that either .or both of the same could be made of hard metal` if desired. j

external circumferential lip or flange 22,

corresponding to the bead 13-13 of the previous modification, but differingtherefrom in being at the end of the sleeve instead of spaced from such end. The sleeve isinteriorly cylindrical and of a size snugly to receive the abutting pipe ends, and adj acent to each end thereof is formed an internal circumferential groove 23 defining a bead 24 opposite the lip 22. This bead is exactly like the bead 15 in the former instance, excepting that it is defined by a single groove instead of by two grooves, and, like the former bead, is designed to be pressed inwardly with great force when the external lips 22-22 are reduced by radially applied pressure as by tightening up the members 5 and 6.

In case it be desired to secure a pipe to a fitting the arrangement of parts illustrated in Fig. 7 may be employed. 'Ihe fitting is indicated at 30 and is provided with a pipe receiving recess 31 communicating with a bore 32. The outer end of the recess 31 is flared as at 33 for the reception of one end of the sleeve 3, the latter end of the same `being surrounded by a companion clamp member 6a, which is drawn toward the htting in any suitable manner as by the union nut 35. With this arrangement the same sleeve is employed for a single pipe as for .securing together' a pair of pipes, thus decreasing the number of parts necessarily kept in stock, the outer end of the same serving to secure the member 61 to the pipe in gripping relation, and the inner end serving to eidiect a tight joint between the pipe and fitting. Obviously anyform of gripping or constricting members could be employed in this or any of the embodiments herewith illustrated.

Reference has been made to the formation of the sleeve from brass or bronze or a mixture of the two. Any metal can be used if it be suiiiciently malleable to yield to the constricting action of the members 5 and 6 and at the same time sufficiently hard so that the beads may not crush too easily. The alloys mentioned possess these features in very satisfactory degree but other metals such as soft steel may be used in some cases.

I have here illustrated my coupling in connection with gas or plumbing pipes of the ordinary size. However I apprehend that it will iind large use in connection with gas, water, and oil mains of very great size,

'the particular construction of the constricting members being varied with the size as past experience, present knowledge, future experience, or immediate necessity may indicate.

By illustrating certain forms of sleeves and constricting memberin connection with hard metal pipes and -others in connection with soft metal pipes, or with combinations of the two, I do not intend tomestrict myself to those particular relations, shapes or uses, since these views are purely illustrative, although the vconstructions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are particularly rugged and able to withstand heavy duty such as is more frequently encountered in connection with rigid and unyielding pipes, while that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is somewhat the least However, any suitable or convenient construction may be used, as will be obvious.

While I have described my invention in detail, I do not, therefore, propose to be limited to such details except as the same may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed or may be rendered neces- 4 sary by the prior state of the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a coupling for cylindrical metal members, the combination of a sleeve of hard ductile metal having a tapered exterior and a cylindrical interior, said interior being formed at a point adjacent to but spaced inwardly from its thin end with a narrow internal integral bead adapted to receive the coupled member, and a constricting member adapted to be moved longitudinally over said sleeveand to engage the portion immediately surrounding said bead, whereby said sleeve will -be constricted and the bead will be pressed forcibly against the vsurface of the' member therewithin.

2. In a coupling for cylindrical metal members, the combination of a sleeve of hard ductile metal having a doubly tapered exterior and a cylindricalA interior, said interior being formed at a point adjacent to but spaced inwardly from each end an.in ternal integral bead adapted to receive the coupled member, and constricting members formed with inclined interior recesses and adapted to be moved longitudinally of said sleeve, and to engage the portion immediately surrounding said beads, whereby said sleeve will .be constricted andv said beads will be pressed forcibly against the surfaces of the members therewithin.

3. In a coupling for cylindrical metal members, the combination of a hard, ductile metal sleeve having a cylindrical interior and a tapered exterior and having adjacent lto but spaced from its thin end a narrow internal circumferential bead adapted to re-A ceive snugly the member to be coupled, and a constricting member adapted to surround and engage the 'portion of said sleeve immediately surrounding said rib and adapted,

gage the surface of the enteringmember at both sides of said bead whereby relative angular movementl of said sleeve and member is prevented.

4. In a coupling for cylindrlcal metal I members, the combination of a hard, ductile metal sleeve having a cylindrical interior and a doubly tapered exterior and having y adjacent to but spaced apart from each of,

its ends a narrow internal circumferential bead, the internal diameters of said beads being substantially the same as the external diameters of the members to be coupled, constricting means adapted to surround the portions of said sleeve immediately sur-v rounding said beads and adapted,`when set up, to press'said beads forcibly against the surfaces ofthe members to be coupled, said sleeve being also formed to engage the surfaces of saldcoupled members at the sides of said beads whereby angular movement of said members relative to said' sleeve is prevented. l

i5. In a pipe coupling, the combination, with a pair of abutting cylindrical sections, of a ductile metal sleeve surrounding said sections and having a cylindrical interior and af doubly tapered exterior, the interior ofI said sleeve being formed adjacent to but spaced from each of its ends with a narrow internal bead closely receiving the ends of said sections, a pair of yconstricting'members having their interiors tapered complementarily with the exterior of said sleeve and forming together a recess receiving said sleeve, and means fordrawing said constricting ymembers together whereby the diameter of said sleeve is uniformly reduced and said beads caused to press forcibly against the sections therewithin.

6. In -a pipe coupling, the combination, with a pair of abutting cylindrical sections, of a ductile metal sleeve adapted to surround said sections and having a doubly tapered exterior, the interior of said sleeve beingV formed adjacent to each end with an internal bead adapted to receive one of said sections, and a pair of constrictng members having their interiors tapered complementarily with the exterior ,of said sleeve, the.

larger ends of said tapered interiors terminating in rounded shoulders outside of the diameters of said tapering portions, and means for drawing said constricting members together whereby the diameter of said sleevemaybe reduced and said beads caused to press forcibly against the sections therewithin.

7. In a pipe coupling, in combination, a

sleeve of hard malleablemetal having a dou- `bly tapered exterior and havingadjacent to the sleeve surface and adapted to receive` snugly the sections to be coupled,-a lining of comparatively soft malleable metal withmembers, the combination, with a hard metal member having a Haring recess adapted to receive one of said coupled members, of a sleeve of strong ductile metal adapted to it closely about said coupled member, and having its exterior tapered in the same direction as said recess, an integraly rib sur rounding said sleeve adjacent to its forward end, said rib having a diameter intermediate the largest and smallest diameters of said recess, the interior of said sleeve being formed with a pair of Ispaced circumferential grooves, one at each Vside'of said rib,

and means whereby said sleeve may be drawn forcibly into said recess whereby said rib will be pressed down toward the exterior surface of said sleeve and the portion defined between said grooves will be displaced from the interior of said sleeve to form a bead which shall engage said coupled member.

9. In' a coupling for cylindrical metal members, in combination, a sleeve' of strong ductile metal adapted to fit closely about said coupled member, and having an integral external circumferential sleeve adjacent to its forward end, the interior of said sleeve being formed with a pair ofl spaced circumferentialy grooves, one at each side of said rib, and means for applying radial inward pressure upon said rib, whereby the same will be pressed down toward the exterior surface of said sleeve and the portion defined between. said grooves will be displaced from the interior of said sleeve to form 'a bead which shall engage said coupled'member.

l0. In a coupling for cylindrical metal members, a sleeve adapted to surround and fit closely about such ai member and having a tapered exterior surface and a circumferential rib intermediate the ends of said surface, a constricting member having a flaring exterior adapted toreceive said sleeve and rib, the diameter of said rib being intermediate the greatest and least diameters of the iaringportion of said fitting and the interior of said fitting being formed with a pair of circumferential grooves, one at each side of said rib, and

means for forcing said constricting member longitudinally past said sleeve, whereby said rib will be reduced exteriorly and the bore, the surface of said bore being circum- I ferentially grooved to define a bead, a rib formed upon the exterior of said sleeve opposite said bead, a constricting memberhaving a flaring exterior adapted to receive said sleeve and rib, the diameter of said rib being intermediate between the greatest and'least diameters of the flaring portion of said fitting, and means for forcing said constricting member longitudinally pastV said sleeve, whereby said rib will be reduced exteriorly and said bead will be displaced inwardly and caused to press against the surface of the member therewithin.

12. In-a coupling for cylindrical metal members, the combination, with a sleeve having a cylindrical surface adapted to fit closely against the cylindrical surface of such member and having an annular rib projecting from the surface opposite to said cylindrical surface, the cylindrical face of said sleeve being formed with a pair of circumferential grooves, one at each side of said rib, of means for exerting pressure upon said rib whereby the same may be depressed in the direction of the surface from which it projects, and the portion defined between said grooves may be displaced to one side of such cylindrical surface to form a bead which shall press against the surface of said coupled member. v

13. In a coupling for cylindrical metal members, in combination, a sleeve having a cylindrical surface adapted to fit closely against the cylindrical surface of such member, such cylindrical surface being circumferentially grooved to define a bead, an integral rib carried by said sleeve opposite said bead, and means for exerting pressure upon said rib whereby the same may be depressed in the direction of the surface from which it projects and said bead may be pressed forcibly against the surface of said coupled member.

14. ln 'a .coupling for metal members, the combination, with a pair of tubular coupling members and means for adjustably connecting them, one of said coupling members being provided with a flaring entrance end, of a sleeve of hard ductile metal tapered forwardly to a comparatively thin edge and having a circumferential integral v rib a short distance in the rear of said edge, the normal exterior diameter of said rib being intermediate the largest and smallest diameters of said entrance end and the interior of said sleeve being substantially cylindrical and formed with a pair of spaced circumferential grooves, one at each side of said rib, the other of said cou pling members having a driving connection with said sleeve whereby, when the coupling members are drawn together, the rib will be depressed in the direction of the surface from which it projects and the portion of the sleeve interior between said grooves will be displaced to form a bead which shall press forcibly against the surface of said coupled member.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto ax my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. MGFERRAN. 

